Salaries › Mechanical Engineer › California
Mechanical Engineer Salary in California (2026)
$62.94 per hour · take-home ≈ $92,639/year ($7,720/month) for a single filer
Mechanical Engineer pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $82,070 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $102,360 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $130,900 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $166,580 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $203,620 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 30,530 Mechanical Engineer jobs in California (occupation code 17-2141, “Mechanical Engineers”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Mechanical Engineer salary of $130,900 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $92,639 — an effective tax rate of 29.2%.
| Gross (median) | $130,900 |
| Federal income tax | −$20,150 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$10,014 |
| California state income tax | −$8,097 |
| Take-home (annual) | $92,639 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $7,720 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Mechanical Engineer make in California?
- The median Mechanical Engineer salary in California is $130,900 per year ($62.94 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $102,360 and $166,580.
- What is the take-home pay for a Mechanical Engineer in California?
- On the median salary of $130,900, a single filer in California takes home about $92,639 per year ($7,720 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 29.2%.
- How many Mechanical Engineer jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 30,530 Mechanical Engineer jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Mechanical Engineers
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.